US does not expect significant Russian gains in Ukraine in coming weeks and months
The United States does not expect Russia to make significant territorial gains in Ukraine in the near future.
Source: Reuters, citing a senior Pentagon official, who described the front lines of the year-long war as "grinding slog", as European Pravda reports
Quote: "You may see small portions of territory change hands in the coming weeks and months. I do not think that there's anything I see that suggests the Russians can sweep across Ukraine and make significant territorial gains anytime in the next year or so," said Colin Kahl, Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, testifies during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on oversight of U.S. military support to Ukraine.
President Joe Biden's administration has provided Ukraine with nearly US$32 billion in military aid since Russia's invasion started a year ago; among other things, the aid packages included drones, longer-range artillery systems, and air defence equipment.
In October 2022, the United States resumed on-site inspections in Ukraine to help track billions of US dollars in weapons being provided to Kyiv.
One of the weapons that the US has not provided, despite public appeals from Ukrainian officials, is F-16 fighter jets.
Lawmakers repeatedly asked Kahl about sending these fighters to Ukraine.
Biden has so far ruled out the possibility of providing fighter jets, and Kahl said that the delivery of existing F-16s could take 18-24 months, and as for the new ones – it would take even longer.
He added that Ukraine is willing to get fighter jets, but this is not the country's top priority.
"It is a priority for the Ukrainians, but it is not one of their top three priorities," Kahl said.
Background: The United States House Committee on Armed Services determined that the possibility of sending F-16 fighters to Ukraine "is not a wise use of the resources that are necessary to win the fight."
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